New system build - startup woes...

[NinjaAndy]

Hey guys,

Ive just built a new system. An Intel Core 2 Duo, with a Gigabyte 965P-DS4. A basic PCI-E graphics card, 2x 512 sticks of RAM, and a Thermaltake 420w PSU.

When i hit the power button, the CPU fan rotates a quater of a turn, and then stops, the board sounds as if its powering up, then turns itself off again. It then powers up again, but the fan doesnt move, and switches off again, and it does this repeatidly until you pull the plug.

Ive removed the RAM, and this generates a beep error. Ive tested the RAM works in another PC, and ive tested the machine with a 550w PSU.

Ive also removed the graphics card for a standard VGA one, and that didnt make any difference (even tried without the graphics card..)

I've reset the BIOS using the jumper, and tried it by removing the battery.

Nothing i've done has made any difference! Im wondering if i have a faulty CPU (its brand new though..). I cant recall what happens when the CPU is faulty, i thought it should generate a beep code through the speaker.. but this doesnt happen.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!


Andy

PS - i've connected both the 4 pin power connector, and the standard 12(i think..) pin connector.

[Reloadron]

Since this is a new build and you have already tried a few things including a PSU test lets start with some real basics. You are absolutely sure that your motherboard does not have an inadvertent ground? Maybe a standoff where there is no screw? Any possibility that something that should not be under the motherboard is there?

When you press that power button on the case front a few things happen. You are sending a PWR_ON signal to the PSU. That gets things going. Immediately (within 500 mSec about 1/2 second) the PSU should be sending a PWK_OK signal out and things should proceed. However, if things are not right and the PSU senses a severe load you will see the sort of problem you seem to be seeing.

You could also isolate things a little more and disconnect your opticals. I would start by looking for something causing a major load on the PSU preventing a normal start. Recheck all wires and connections including the seating of your processor.

Ron

[Jokerswild]

As you've stated it could be a bad cpu. I had that same reaction with a bad cpu.

[Hitman]

Typically if the CPU is bad the system will power on but you won't get video. All motherboards are different, some give beep codes some don't. Like Ron said recheck all connections, especially the I/O connections.

[NinjaAndy]

Hey again.

It appears that there is something wrong with my graphics card. If i plug in a standard VGA card, the system boots. However, the CPU fan doesnt spin! I suppose this could be power related.. ?

When i say the CPU fan doesnt spin, it moves a quater of a spin initially, then deosnt move again. Do you think this is due to the system not being hot enough? Or a fault somewhere?

[Jokerswild]

Every cpu fan I've seen runs all the time. Do you have it plugged into the proper place?

[NinjaAndy]

Yes - its connected to the 4 pin power output marked CPU fan. The fan starts and stops and kinda judders around, but doesnt ever get up to speed.... its quite strange!

[polobunny]

Is there a PC speaker connected or on the board? At any rate, i'd try with just 1 stick of RAM. Then with the other, in the other slot if this still doesn't work.
Disconnect hard drive, dvd and any other device not needed. Keep the bare essentials, motherboard, cpu, power button switch, video and power supply.

[NinjaAndy]

Ok - got it all working now. It was the damn graphics card, of all things! I wasnt leaving it long enough to get to the beep errors.... When i saw the CPU fan not spinning up, i just turned it off, not wanting to risk damage to the CPU!

I left it on longer when i got frustrated with it, and all of a sudden got a beep error telling me the graphics were faulty! Tested the system with a PCI vga card, and its fine! So its either the graphics card, or somethings up with the PCI-E slot...

Either way, i can handle it myself from here.

Thanks everyone.